Shoe-fitting stool



(No Model.)

J. E. WHEELER. SHOE vPII'TING STOOL.

No. 516,716. Patented Mar. 20, 1894.

THE mmulun LITNOOIAPNING ccuPANv.

UNITED STATES PATENT Cur os.

JOHN E. WHEELER, OF BIRMINGHAM, CONNECTICUT.

SHOE-FITTING STOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,716, dated March. 20,1894.

Serial No. 475,901. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. WHEELER, of B1rm1ngham,in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Shoe-Fitting Stools or Stands; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side elevation of my improved shoe-fitting stand; Fig. 2, asection on the line m-ac of Fig.1, illustrating the cross-sectional conformation of the stand-frame at that point; Fig. 3, a section on the line y--y Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a top plan view of the stand or stool; Fig. 5, a front viewillustrating the main foot-rest and the supplementary foot-rest, and Fig. 6, is a partial vertical section on line ss of Fig. 1, showing the means for clamping the adjustable main foot-rest in position.

This invention relates to stands or stools for use in retail shoe-stores for convenience in fitting shoes to the feet of customers, and for its object it has to provide, first, a shoefitting stand or stool, the foot-rest whereof is capable of radial and vertical adjustment; secondly, to provide for such a stand, a supplementary foot-rest whereon the customer may rest his foot during the intervals of fitting one or both shoes, and lastly, to provide means to receive the heels of ladies and gentlemens shoes to support them in a position of rest while the shoe is beinglaced after the foot is well fitted therein, so that when the foot is in its normal position, the shoe will have a perfect fit around and above the ankle.

To these ends said invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings the reference letterA, designates the supporting-frame of the stand, which is made integral and is of the skeleton type, and consists of a main arm B, having a vertical web C, and upper and lower flanges D, presenting the cross-sectional configuration illustrated in Fig. 3. At its rear the main arm is provided with two diverging legs E, and at its forward end terminates in a leg F, said legs E and F, having attached, in any suitable manner, rubber balls, or pads G, which have frictional contact with the floor upon which the stand orstool rests,thus preventing the said stand or stool from slipping or sliding during the fitting operation, and also avoiding any liability of marring or scratching the floor. At its rearthe main arm B, is formed with a neck H, having the form in cross section illustrated in Fig. 2, and from said neck diverging arms or branches I, extend upwardly, and support the seat J, which may be secured to said arms or branches by screws, as shown. This seat may, if desired, be upholstered or otherwise suitably covered.

From the upper forward end of the main arm B, projects radiallyan arm or support K, which carries the main foot-rest a, in the manner hereinafter described. The upper 7: surface of the rest a, has the general shape of the surface of a boot or shoe sole and heel, and is provided with a downwardly projecting web or flange b, extending longitudinally thereof-from end to end and in which is formed an elongated slot 0, that is substantially parallel with the rest. The location and arrangement of this web orflange strengthens the rest proper, and gives it greater'stability than otherwise. Said rest is '80 secured to thearm or support K by means of a hand clamp-wheel d, one end of the clamping-spindle e, of which is screw-threaded to fit a correspondingly screw-threaded orifice in said arm or support K. Adjacent to its screw-threaded end the spindle has a plane or smooth portion which is received by the slot 0 of the foot-rest a, and next this plane or smooth portion the spindle is provided with an annular clamping-nut or plate f, which when the hand wheel is turned in the proper direction, clamps the foot-rest a to the support or arm K, in asecure and immovable manner, and when turned in the opposite direction, permits said foot-rest to be adjusted 5 vertically to any desired extent within the limits of its slot 0, and also to be adjusted radially, turning upon the spindle e, as a pivot. I thus provide a foot-rest which may be ad justed both vertically and radially to suit the I00 convenience and comfort of the customer.

The upper or shoe=supporting surface of the rest a, has, as before stated, the general outline of the sole and heel of a shoe, as seen at g It, so that the customer resting his foot thereon, may force the shoe entirely and nicely ontohis foot.

In that part of the foot-rest lettered g, I form two depressions or recesses 2' j, one in advance of the other, and both having substantially the surface shape of the heel of a shoe. These recesses or depressions are, however, constructed of different sizes, as shown in Figs. 4 and 50f the drawings, in order that the heels of shoes of ladies or gentlemen may be accurately received therein. After the shoe has been accurately fitted to the foot of the customer, the heel is placed in one of the re cesses or depressions t', j, so as to support the customers foot in a position of ease, the toe of the shoe pointing upwardly. The object of supporting the foot in this position is that the foot is then in the most desirable position for lacing the shoe tightly upon the foot, so that when the shoe is in common use, it fits the foot accurately around and above the ankle, avoiding unsightly puckering. By providing two of such recesses 1. j of different size, the heels of shoes of ladies and gentlemen are accurately accommodated, and a more satisfactory rest for the heel is afforded than if one such recess or depression only were provided.

Below the foot-rest a, a two-armed bracket 70, projects from the leg F, the arms of which have a plane horizontal under surface or ledge, and to the forward ends of said arms is pivoted an auxiliary foot-rest Z, which is capable of being turned upon its pivot. That side of this foot-rest Z, upon which the shoeincased foot is to be supported, may be plush covered, or otherwise suitably upholstered,

and when turned down into its operative position as a foot-rest, it is held firmly from further turning by coming into contact with the flat under surface of the bracket 70. The other side of this foot-rest I provide with a mirror, so that when the shoe is fitted, the said rest may be turned to expose the mirror, and the customer may view the fit of the shoe.

During the fitting of shoes it is often necessary to take the foot from the main footrest a, for the purpose offitting both shoes for the customer, or for other purposes, and it is often the case that the floor of the store is damp or wet, and if, during the fitting, the shoe had to be placed upon the floor, the sole thereof would become soiled. A desirable fit remain upon the metal foot-rest or upon the floor in cold or damp weather, it would result in great discomfort and probable in ury. By the provision of my supplementary r auxiliary foot-rest, however, this is avolded and the purchasers foot is afforded a soft and dry support in the events mentioned.

The skeleton frameI may form of aluminum or some alloy thereof, or any other metal or composition that I may find desirable to use, due regard being paid to economy, appearance and weight.

I am aware that rests have been so mounted on a supporting frame as to be both laterally and vertically adjustable, and that they have been provided with elongated slots to receive clamping devices, and thereforeI do not claim such construction broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a shoe fitting stool or stand, the combination with a supporting frame, of an adjustable foot-rest, the upper surface of which has the general contour of the sole and heel of a shoe, and provided in its sole portion with two heel-receiving recesses or depressions of diiferent size, said foot-rest constructed with a downwardly projecting web or flange extending longitudinally thereof from end to end, and formed withan elongated slotsubstantially parallel with the foot-rest proper, and a clamping device having a spindle which passes through the elongated slot and engages with the supporting frame, substantially as described.

2. In a shoe-fitting stool or stand, the com bination with a supporting-frame, of a main foot-rest, and an auxiliary pivoted foot-rest one side of which is adapted to support the foot and the other side of which is provided with a mirror, substantially as described.

3. In a shoe-fitting stool or stand, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a main and an auxiliary foot-rest pivoted to the said frame, the said main foot-rest being vertically and radially adjustable, and the said auxiliary foot-rest being arranged under the main foot-rest, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN E. WHEELER.

Vitnesses:

ANDREW J. EWEN, ROBERT L. GILBERT. 

